Held youths, families, claim attack on Hindu men wasn't communal

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In a latest turn of events in the alleged attack on three Hindu youths who were returning from a Ram Navami rally in Vidyaranyapura, the arrested accused, who belong to Muslim community, claimed that they were instigated by the youths and were forced to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' by them.

The incident allegedly took place on Wednesday in Chikkabettahalli area where three men were returning in a car after a Ram Navami event.

They claimed that they were intercepted by two bike-borne men from the minority community who objected to their chanting and demanded they chant "Allahu Akbar" instead.

The Muslim men then proceeded to assault the Hindu youths with sticks, as per the allegations.

A video of the incident, which showed Muslim men allegedly attacking the Hindu men in the car, went viral on Wednesday triggering several BJP workers to hold a protest which resulted in the jurisdictional police filing an FIR in the matter.

At least four men were arrested in the case within a few hours. Two of the accused were identified as Farhan and Sameer, both residents of MS Palya in Bengaluru.

Two others arrested were juveniles. Sources from the police said that there is no criminal record of the youths.

According to sources, the arrested accused stated to the police that the men in the car had forced them to chant 'Jai Shri Ram', to which they refused and began to reason with them.

However, the men abused them, which escalated into a physical altercation.

They also alleged that the video clip shared in the media was edited, showing only a portion of the episode. Ayub, father of one of the accused, told News Trail that he was not aware of the incident until the police came to their house.

"I was told that he had a fight with a group of boys while returning home. But later the issue was turned into a communal controversy and he was arrested," Ayub said.

Meanwhile Union Minister for the State, Shobha Karandlaje visited the house of the Hindu youths, Vinayak, Pavan and Rahul and assured them support.